Council to focus on water

Advisory board eyed for long-range plan

Published: Wednesday, July 09, 2003

JOHN FUQUAYAVALANCHE-JOURNAL

Decisions about water re sources, wastewater discharge, pipelines, fees and other water-related issues soon could be made by a City Council-appointed commission charged with developing a 100-year water supply for Lubbock.

The merits of a seven-member commission, its duties and composition are to be discussed by the council today.

"I'm all for it," Councilman Gary Boren said. "I think this is a way to pool some of the great talent we have here in Lub bock to gether on this important is sue. My goal is to have a 100-year wa ter supply for Lub bock."

Boren, along with Mayor Marc Mc Dougal and Council man Tom Mar tin, asked the city staff last year to begin re search on advisory boards for water issues.

Across West Texas, a rush for water rights has drawn comparisons to the boom in oil and gas decades ago.

Dallas oilman T. Boone Pickens set the tone last year when he received permits to tap the Ogallala Aquifer be neath private land in the Pan handle and sell water to El Paso and other cities looking to secure water for future generations.

"Water is going to be the big issue that city councils, whether it be Lubbock or other cities, are going to have to deal with for the next several years," McDougal said.

"Making sure there's enough water, and making sure those water supplies are safe."

Boren said Lubbock already has a number of residents who serve or formerly served on governor-appointed water au thor ities.

In addition, former Mayor Windy Sitton was appointed by President Bush last year to serve as commissioner of the federal Canadian River Com pact Commission, and state Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lub bock, serves on the Senate Natural Resources Committee.

"For the first time, we could truly bring in all the water experts to tie in Lubbock as a hub for water in the state," Boren said.

Council members have said many of the city's assets  Lubbock International Air port, Lubbock Power & Light, parks, libraries and others  are monitored by boards or commissions that make recommendations to the City Coun cil.

The city's water assets include Lake Alan Henry, a 37-percent interest in the Cana dian River Municipal Water Authority and a wastewater treatment plant that discharges 20 million gallons a day.

Discharge of treated water into a stream in southeast Lubbock County began last month, and the city has discussed providing the water to the White River Municipal Water District that serves Post, Ralls, Crosbyton and Spur.

During the past legislative session, the city received authority to sell water from Lake Alan Henry to cities in Garza and Kent counties.

Terry Ellerbrook, the city's director of water utilities, supervised research regarding a water commission, surveying eight Texas cities and identifying 14 areas of potential responsibilities.

Of eight cities contacted, Austin, Odessa, Fort Worth and Dallas responded that they use a committee or commission with some advisory oversight of water utility issues. San Antonio, Houston, Amarillo and Midland were the other survey cities.

Water commission members could become involved with budget reviews related to water operations, pipeline and infrastructure monitoring, ex pansion and construction projects, water and sewer rates, water sources and supplies, regional water contracts and federal and state regulations.

Creating a water commission would require a council vote at a future meeting.